Transfer system



June 1949- G. L. CLAIYBOURN 2,473,863

TRANSFER SYSTEM Filed y 1 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 egg WITNESSES: L INVENTOR 54 77 v 6/60 A. C/aybourrz June 21, 1949. CLAYBQURN 2,473,863

v TRANSFER SYSTEM Filed July 17, 1947 v V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES:

x i INVENTOR 6/6/7 L. C/ayaurn.

. ATTOR Y Patented June 21, 1949 UN I-TED STATES 9-Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to transfer systems, and has reference in particular to automatic transfer systemsforjconnecting a' circuit or bus to one or the other of a pair ofpower'sources or supply lines to insurercontinuityof service.-

Generally statedrit is an object of myinvention to provide an improved transfersystem which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and. is reliable and eifectiveinoperation- More specifically; itis an object of my invention to provide'a transfer. systemvwherein a single control switch is used .to-provide for either manual transfer, orautomatic transfer, with one or the other of two power sources: or supply lines-as the preferred one.-

It is also an object of-my invention to provide, in an automatic transfer system,- for: using a mechanically latched control relay so :as to prevent loss of control circuitselection upon failure of the control voltage.

Another object of my invention is to. provide, in an automatic transfer system, for. preventing transfer under predetermined. fault conditions Yet another object of my invention is to provide, in a transfer system, for automaticallyjtransf sv the control bus from one source to the other in the event of failure of voltage of the-one source, independently of the transfer of the power bus or circuit.

A more specific object'of'my inventio is'to provide, in a transfer system; for immediate transfer'of a power circuit or'bus from one source or incoming supply line to another after initiation of a transfer operation. 7

Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be explained hereinafter;

In practicing my invention in one of its forms, a feeder bus or'circuit is disposed to be connected to one or the other of two power sources or incoming lines through separate circuit breakers which are individually controlled by transfer relays of the electricallyoperated, mechanically latched andelectrically resettype. The transfer relays are in turn controlled by voltage responsive relays responslvetothe voltages of' the power sources, and a manual selector switch which so sets up the circuits-for the transfer relays that either one or the other ofthepower sources is made the preferredssource; The same selector switch also controlsstheconnectionsof the transfer relays so as to determine whether the transfer systemis setup-for manual :or automaticoperation. The control circuits are energized from one source or: theother, depending upon the operating position of .therselector. switch, and are:

2.11 transferablerindependentlvofitthespower circuits in response to the failure of :voltage. of the preferred source. Automaticstrsnsfer is. prevented when aloss of'voltage results fromaafaultcondition. on the feeder bus. I

For a morecompletecunderstanding: of the nature andscopeiof my invention-preference may be made to :the following; detailed description which may be studied in: connection :with the accompanying ,rdrawingsain-Whinh:

Figures lmandt 1B; whenzplaced together, in side-by-side-re1ation;.. provide a diagrammatic view of a-transfer system-embodying the invention in roneof itszformsr Referring. qto.;l'.igsz- 1A; and: 1B; the; reference numeral lormay denoteagenerally, a. feeder bus comprising conductors Illa, Nb and: I00 for supplying electrical vuenergyto: aaload: [2A through a feeder circuit'breaker I311 The 13115.10? is connecte d.:to asmainbus-hl l wfiichumayzbe selectively energized'rfrom: eitherithe' conductors: I 5a,- I 5b and I 50 or' I 60, I ibran'drwl ia which: representidifferent power'sources: 15531111 ll; through .main circuit breakers I B andfzlii respectively;

The main circuit'xbreaker "may be of any suitable. type, such :aa 'thertrin-free type-illustrated, having anoperatinamechanism 22 provided with a closing:windinziflaandia trip; winding 29.;

The closmgaoperaticn of thebreakervl 8 may b controlled bra closing reliever-havin an operating windinall whicit mya be energized from a suitable source .ofvicontrol potential. which may be obtained from controlbus conductorsflwflb. an Sic-by. means of 'a'..-;.cut:-ofi 're1ay* 3shaving an operatingvwindina 34s. ascutout -switchaiwmay be rovided.forrdisconnectlnaitha operating windin 34= from-the control busvconductors: A manual control switch ii' mayabeprovided for controllin the operation on the closing relay and the: tri means fcraflectingi-manual operation of the cireuit. breaker: The manual control: switch ma vbe provided: with easllpycontact member; 36b which completes awcircuitin thezbloseif position. and p sin the tri position.

The 'circuitvbreaker vi-may be: generally-J similar in: all respects. to thencircuit breaker I8- being, forexample,'- provldedz*with an operating mechanism. 40 providediwith-aswinding 44- and a; trip winding.- 7

The circuit'breakerdmmayrbe provided with a closing relay 49 havingcn hoperatingr winding 50 disposed to-be enersizedfroma-lsuitable source of control potential such asthe conductors 32a, 32b and 32cby means-oiafcuteoifrelay 52; having an operating windingt I); operating winding 53 the non-operative or open position.

may be connected to the control source through a cutout switch 54. Manual control of the circuit breaker 20 may be aifected by means of a manual control switch 55 similar to the control switch 35, and which may be operable to selectively energize the operating winding 58 of the closing relay, or the trip winding 41 for manually closing or opening the circuit breaker, respectively.

The feeder circuit breaker [3 may be of any suitable type, and provided with manual or automatic control means of any type well known in the art. Trip means 56 having an operating winding 51 may be provided for opening the circuit breaker to disconnect the load l2 from the bus conductors Illa, Iflb and Mc.

In order to provide a suitable control voltage for effecting operation of the main circuit breakers l8 and 20 and their associated control relays, single phase operating transformers 69 and 52 may be connected to the source conductors la, l5b and I611, I622, respectively. The transformers 60 and 62 may be provided with center taps 64 and 65 on their secondary windings, which windings may be connected to the control conductors 32a, 32b and 320 by means of cutout switches 66, 61 and conductors 68a, 68b, 68c and 69a, 69b, 690, through control change-over switches 19 and '12 having operating windings l3 and I4, respectively. Voltage responsive control relays l5 and 11 may be connected between the center taps and one terminal of the secondary windings of the operating transformers for controlling operation of the change-over switches 79 and 12 in order to insure connection of the control conductors to whichever source provides the proper voltage conditions.

In order to provide for automatically connecting the feeder bus I8 to whichever of the main power sources or [6 provides the necessary voltage, transfer relays 80 and 82 may be provided for controlling the connections of the main circuit breakers l8 and 20. The transfer relays 8i! and 82 may be of the electrically operated, mechanically latched and electrically reset type comprising, for example, armatures 83 and 84, having operating windings 85 and 86, respectively. The armatures may be mechanically latched in the operating or closed position by latch means 88 and 89, provided with reset windings 9t and 81 for retracting the latch means to permit the armatures 83 and 84, respectively to return to By using transfer relays of this type, loss of control voltage resulting from a blown fuse or the like is prevented from changing the control circuit set up, thus making the control positive and certain. Operation of the transfer relays as and 82 may be controlled by means of master voltage relays 94 and 95 which may be of the polyphase type. The master relays may have a relatively slow response operating characteristic, so that the moving contact members require an appreciable time to move between the normal and under voltage contacts thereof. In order to provide polyphase voltages for operating the relays 94 and 95, potential transformers 96 and 91 may be connected to the source conductors I51), I and lfib, I60, respectively, so as to provide an open-delta, 3- phase voltage with their respective operating transformers and 62.

In order to provide for selectively connecting the control relays of the circuit breakers l8 and 20 for either manual control of the circuitbreakers, or for automatic operation thereof, with either the power source l5 or the power source It being the preferred source, a master selector switch 98 may be provided. The selector switch may be of any suitable type being, for example, of the drum type, with contact segments arranged to selectively connect the circuit breaker control means in one position for automatic operation with the source l5 being the preferred source; in an intermediate position, for manual operation; or in a third position for automatic control with the source l6 being the preferred source. An auxiliary manual control relay 99 may be prevlded to provide control power when manual operation is desired.

In order to prevent automatic transfer of the feeder bus from one power source to the other where the loss of voltage results from a fault on the feeder bus, current responsive relays mi] and Illl may be provided in connection with the source conductors I5a, [5b, l5c and lfia, 161), 60, respectively. Auxiliary protective relays 163 and I04 having latch means I96 and I0! to maintain them in the operative position may be provided in conjunction with the relays I00 and it! for energizing the trip winding 51 of the circuit breaker l3 and for interrupting the operating circuits for the control relays 33 and 49, so as to prevent operation of the transfer relays 8t and 82 from connecting the bus conductors ill to the other of the power sources when it is disconnected from one in response to a fault on the feeder bus. The auxiliary relays may be manually reset to restore operation of the system. The transfer relays, trip means and auxiliary protective lays may be energized from a reliable source such as a battery, which is represented by the and terminal marking.

With the system in the condition as shown, the control voltage relays l6 and 11 will normally be in the operating position whenever the cutout switches 66 and 61 are closed, provided that the power source conductors, 15a, 15b, l5c and the, [612, I60 are properly energized. The master voltage relays 94 and 95 will operate so that the moving contact members engage the normal voltage contact members 94a and 95a, respectively. Accordingly, the operating windings and 88 of the transfer relays 89 and 82 will be energized. The armatures 83 and 84 will be actuated to the operated positions, wherein they will be latched by the latch members 88 and 89, respectively.

If it is desired to effect manual operation of either one of the main circuit breakers 18 or 29, the master selector switch 98 may be left in the intermediate position as shown, whereupon the auxiliary manual relay 99 will be in the energized position. With the manual control switch operated to the off position, an energizing circuit is provided for the operating winding 34 of the cut-ofi relay 33, extending from the control conductor 32a through conductor I82, resistor I05, conductor I02, operating winding 34, contact member 36a of the control switch 36, conductor I08, normally closed contact members [8b of circuit breaker l8, cut-out switch 35 and conductor 189, back to the control conductor 320. With the master selector switch 98 in the manual position as shown, and the auxiliary relay 99 energized, an energizing circuit is provided for the operating winding 13 of the change-over switch 10, extending from conductor 68b through operating winding 13, conductor 92, contact member 12d, conductor 93, and contact member 99a to control conductor 68c. Change-over switch Ill closes and connectsthe control conductors 32a, 32b, 32c to the source l5.

If the manual controlswitch :36-nis now operated to the close position;- an'energizing circuit is provided for the operatingwinding SI of the closing relay 30, extending from'the control conductor 32a through conductor H0, resistor III, conductor H2, contact member I04'b, conductor I I3, contact member 103b, conductors H4 and H5, slip contacts 36b' of'themanualcontrol switch 36, conductor H6, conductor I", contact members 3312 of the cut 'off relay 33, operating winding 3i, conductor H8, contact member 200 of the circuit breaker 20, conductors I I9 and I20, contact member 360 of the'control switch 36, conductors I 2I and I22, contact member 98d. of the master selector switch, and conductor I09, back to control conductor 32c.

The closing relay36 operates, and: completes an obvious energizing-circuit Ior the operating winding 24 of the circuit breaker I8, causing closure of the main circuit breaker I8. The .cut-ofi relay 33 is shunted through contact :member I8a of the circuit breaker causing it toreturn to the cleenergized position. The energizing circuit for I28, contact member 36d, conductors I30 and I3I,

contact member 98a, to the positive terminal of the control source. The trip"means-28 will thereupon be actuated to release the operatingmechanism 22 and open the circuit breaker. The cutoff relay 33 will be energized as'soon as the circuit breaker returns to the 'deenergized position through contact members l8b; provided the manual control switch 36 has been returned to the off position.

Should it be desired'to efiect automatic control of the main circuit breakers l8 and 20, the master selector switch 98 may be operated to either of its two automatic operating positions, depending upon which of thepower sources I5 and I6 is to be the preferred: source. If it is desired to make the source I5 the preferred source, the master selector switch maybe operated so that the contact segments move to the right. The change-over switch" mwill thereupon be energized through contact members. 98b and 12d to connect the control conductors to the source I 5.

In order to initiate operation of the system the manual control switch 36 mustbe operated'to the close position. With the transfer relays 89 and 82 in the operated positions, an energizing circuit will be provided for the closing relay 30, extending from the conductor 32a through conductor HII, resistor III, conductorv H2, contact member IlJ4'b, conductor H3, contact member 293b, conductors I I4 and H5; contact members 361), conductor H6, contact members 331), operating winding 3|, conductor H8, contact members c, conductor H9, contact members 80a, contact member 98c, andconductor I09, back to the control conductor 32c.

The closing relay operates, and provides an obvious energizing circuit for the operating winding 24 of the main circuit breaker l8. The circuit breaker I8 closes and connects the bus conductor ID to the source'IS; The cut-offrelay 3.3

is shunted down throughcontactmembers l8a of the circuit breaker, thereby interrupting the energizing circuit for the operating winding 3| of the closing relay 30 at contact members 33b, which open.

Should the voltage of the power source I5 fail, for reasons not resulting froma fault condition on th bus conductors, the master voltage relay 94 operates to the under voltage position with the moving contacts engaging stationary contact members 94?). Accordingly, the operating winding of the transfer relay 89 is deenergized and the reset winding is energized. The latch member 88 is thereupon retracted, releasing the armature 83 to the deenergized position. An energizing circuit is thereupon provided for the trip-winding 29 of the circuit breaker I8 through contact members 88a of the latch member, conductor I32, conductor I21, contact member I8a of the circuit breaker l8 and conductor I25.

If the voltage of the other power source I6 is of a suitable value, the transfer relay 82 will be in its operated or closed position. Accordingly, an energizing circuit will be provided for the operating winding 50 of the closing relay 49 extending from the control conductor 32a through conductor H9, resistor III, conductor H2, contact member I041), conductor H3, contact member I031), conductor H4, conductor H5, contact member 36?), conductors H6 and I", contact members 521), operating winding 50, conductor I33, contact members I80, conductor I34, contact members 820, conductor I36, contact members 88b, contact member 986, and conductor I69, back to control conductor 320.

The closing relay 49 operates, and provides an obvious energizing circuit for the operating winding 44, causing the main circuit breaker 20 to close. The feeder bus I0 is thereupon connected to the power source I6, and the cut-off relay 52 is shunted down through contact member 20a, so as to interrupt the energizing circuit for the operating winding 50.

With the control conductors 32a, 32b, and 320 originally energized from the source IS, the control voltage relay 76 will have been deenergized immediately upon failure of voltage of the source I5, and the change-over switch 10 will have returned to the deenergized position. Operation of the change-over switch 12 is affected automatically, independently of operation of the transfer of the connections of the bus I0, since an energizing circuit is provided for the operating winding I4 upon the return of the control voltage relay 16 and the change-over switch 70 to their deenergized positions. This circuit may be traced from the center tap conductor 69b through the operating winding I4, conductor I42, contact member 16d, contact member 1617, conductor I43 and contact member 'I'Ib, back to the control conductor 690. Accordingly, a dependable source of control voltage is assured immediately upon failure of the power source I5, for'operation of the circuit breaker control relays.

Should the voltage of the power source I5 be restored, the control voltage relay I6 returns to the energized position, interrupting the energizing circuit for the change-over switch I2. The switch I2 opens completing the energizing circuit for the change-over'switch 10 through contact member 72d. The connection of the control conductors is thereby transferred back to the preferred source as soonas voltage is restored thereto.

Upon the restoration of voltage to the source IS; the master voltage relay 94 returns to the operating or normal voltage position, and completes an obvious energizing circuit for the operating winding 85 of the transfer relay 80, and deenergizes the reset winding 90. Accordingly, the transfer relay 80 is actuated to the operated position, and the latch member 88 is actuated to lock the armature 83 in the operative position.

Upon closing of contact members 800, an energizing circuit is provided for the trip winding 4'! of the main circuit breaker 20 extending from negative through the trip winding 41, contact member 20d, conductor M5, contact member 80c, and contact member 9312, to positive. The circuit breaker 28 is thereby tripped, and an energizing circuit is provided for the operating winding 3! of the closing relay 3!), through the circuit extending from the control conductor 32c through conductor H0, resistor HI, conductor H2, contact member 184?), conductor H3, contact member I031), conductor Ht, conductor H5, contact member 36b, conductor Ht, contact member 332), operating winding 3i, conductor H8, contact member Elle, conductor I I9, contact member 80a,

contact member 98c, and conductor 189, back to the control conductor 320. Accordingly, the closing relay 39 operates, and effects closure of the main circuit breaker It.

Should the voltage of the power source l5 drop below a predetermined value or fail, due to a fault on the bus conductors Hi, it is not deemed desirable to effect automatic transfer of the bus conductors to the source 16. Accordingly, when a fault occurs on the bus conductors H) while they are connected to source It, the current responsive relay I operates and provides an obvious energizing circuit for the auxiliary protective relay I03 which is thereupon locked in the energized position.

Upon operation of the protective relay M3, the trip winding 51 of the feeder circuit breaker I3 is energized through an obvious circuit completed at contact member 183a. At the same time, the trip winding 29 of the main circuit breaker I8 is energized through an energizing circuit extending from ne ative through the operating winding 29, conductor I25, contact member ltd, conductor 127, conductor I28, conductor I49, and contact member H330 to positive. In addition, the operating circuit for the closing relay 49 of the circuit breaker 29 is interrupted at contact member 33b, thus effectively preventing closure of the circuit breaker 26. After the fault has been removed, the auxiliary protective relay I03 may be reset by the operator, whereupon automatic control will be resumed and the feeder bus will be reconnected to either the source or in the usual manner.

From the above description and the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that I have provided a voltage chaser or transfer system, wherein a single master selector switch is utilized to both determine whether control of the system is to be automatic or manual, and whether one power source or the other is to be the preferred source. Automatic transfer of the power conductors is obtained by using quick response transfer switches of the mechanically latched type. This eliminates the usual holding circuits and insures positive transfer operation as indicated by the master voltage relays, with no time delay after the master relay initiates a transfer. Loss of control voltage does not affect the circuit set up, since the transfer switch is mechanically latched and remains in the position to which it was last operated. By utilizing voltage relays of the quick-responsive type for controlling transfer of the source of control voltage, a reliable source of control voltage is insured. The use of relatively slow-responsive master voltage relays for effecting transfer of the power circuits prevents hunting of the system due to transfers in response to transient conditions. Complete and adequate protection is provided by looking out the automatic transfer feature when a loss of voltage results from a fault condition on the feeder bus, thereby preventing transfer of a faulty bus to the alternate source.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-described construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all th matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompany ing drawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a control system, a pair of switch means disposed to connect a circuit to one or the other of two sources, transfer means operable to provide operating circuits for the switch means, control means responsive to voltage conditions of the sources above and below predetermined values connected to effect operation of the transfer means, manual control means associated with each of the switch means, and circuit means including a manual control switch operable to con-- nect the transfer means for operating the switch means to effect automatic transfer of the circuit to one or the other of the sources with preferential selection of either source or connect the switch means for operation through their manual control means.

2. In a transfer system for connecting a feeder bus to one Of two power sources, switch means disposed to connect the bus to one or the other of the sources, transfer means controlling operation of the switch means, voltage responsive means associated with each of the sources connected to effect operation of the transfer means in accordance with voltage conditions of the sources above and below predetermined values, control means controlled by the transfer means eff ective to operate the switch means, additional switch means operable to energize the control means, and circuit means including additional voltage responsive means connected to control the additional switch means independently of the first-mentioned voltage responsive means to effect connection of the control means to whichever source has greater than a predetermined voltage.

3. A transfer system disposed to connect a feeder bus to either one of two power sources comprising, switch means operable to connect the bus to one source or the other, voltage means associated with each of the sources operable in response to predetermined voltage conditions of the sources, and circuit means including a transfer relay operable to different positions in response to operation of the voltage means connected to provide an operating ircuit for one or the other of the switch means, said transfer means being mechanically latched in one operating position and releasable to the other operating position.

4. A transfer system for controlling the operation of a pair of switch devices disposed to connect a feeder bus to different power sources comprising, a transfer relay connected to operate each switch device, each of said transfer relays having an operating winding and latch means for retaining the relay in the operated position together with a reset winding for actuatin the latch means to release the relay from the operated position, and voltage means responsive to voltage conditions of each source above and below prede termined values connected to selectively energize the operating and reset windings of their respective transfer relays depending upon whether the voltages of the sources are above or below the predetermined values.

5. A transfer system for a feeder bus and two power sources, switch means operable to connect the bus to each Of the sources, a transfer relay controlling the operation of each of the switch means, said transfer relay having operating and reset windings disposed to actuate the relay to operating and reset positions, said transfer relay having mechanical latch means operable to retain the relay in the operating position and actuable upon energization of the reset winding to release the relay to the reset position, and a voltage relay energized from each power source connected to effect energization of the operating or reset windings, depending upon Whether the voltages of the sources are above or below predetermined operating values.

6. A transfer system for controlling the connection of a feeder bus to different power sources comprising, circuit breaker means disposed to connect the bus to the different sources, transfer means disposed to provide operating circuits for the circuit breaker means, relay means selectively responsive to the voltages of the sources above and below predetermined values connected to control operation of the transfer means, manual control means disposed to effect operation of the circuit breaker means, and a single manual control switch selectively operable to connect the circuit breaker means for operation in response to operation of the transfer means or the manual control means.

'7. A transfer system for selectively controlling the connection of a feeder bus to a pair of power sources comprising, a circuit breaker disposed to connect the bus to each source, manual control means actuable to effect operation of each of the circuit breakers, transfer means disposed to operate each of the circuit breakers, relay means responsive to voltage conditions at the sources connected to effect predetermined operation of the transfer means in accordance with the voltages of the sources, and a manual control switch operable to different positions to connect the circuit breakers for effecting preferential connection of the bus to one power source or the other under control of the transfer means, or to connect them for operation under control of the manual control means.

8. In a transfer system for a pair of circuit breakers disposed to connect a feeder bus to one or the other of two power sources, transfer means connected to effect operation of the circuit breakers to connect the bus to one of the sources including a voltage relay operable in response to the voltage of the source being above a predetermined value, manual control means disposed to effect operation of the circuit breakers, control means operable to connect the circuit breakers for operation in response to operation of the transfer means or the manual control means, and protective means responsive to a fault on the bus operable to render the transfer means ineffective to operate either of the circuit breakers.

9. In a control system for a pair of circuit breakers disposed to connect a polyphase feeder bus to one or the other of two polyphase power sources, a circuit breaker disposed to connect the bus to each source, transfer means disposed to provide an operating circuit for each circuit breaker, polyphase voltage means controlling the transfer means, circuit means including a single phase transformer having a, center tap connected to each of the sources for supplying electrical energy to operating circuits for the breakers, a single phase potential transformer connected in open delta with each of the aforesaid single phase transformers to supply electrical energy to the polyphase voltage means, switch means connected in circuit relation with the aforesaid single phase transformers and the breaker operating circuits, and single phase voltage means responsive to the voltage of said single phase transformers for operating the switch means to transfer connection breaker operating circuit from one single phase transformer to the other should the voltage on said one fail,

GLEN L. CLAYBOURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

